By Desire Tshuma
Harare – The Zimbabwe Taekwondo community is gearing up for the Mayor’s Cup Challenge set for August 15-16, 2026 at Harare City Sports Stadium, with organisers saying the event will showcase both local talent and athletes from across the SADC region.
Announcing the tournament this week, Martin Chimombe, Chairman of the Harare Martial Arts Team, said the event is being held under the patronage of Harare Mayor, His Worship Councillor Jacob Mafume.
“We are gathered here today mainly to mainstream the forthcoming events we are going to have – the Mayor’s Cup Challenge on the 15th and 16th of this month August 2026,” Chimombe said.
He said invitations have been extended to SADC member countries and that about 100 local competitors have already registered. Chimombe added that they are also seeking protocol invitations for the Director General of the Sports Commission, the Minister of Sport, and the Korean Ambassador, given Taekwondo’s Korean origins.
Chimombe paid tribute to the Harare team that competed in Eswatini on August 3, where Zimbabwe scooped 1 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals out of 400 athletes. He also noted another strong showing on July 18 where the same team won 17 medals, 9 of them gold. “They did very well. It was not easy… I want to thank our coaches and the athletes themselves for doing a very good job,” he said, urging athletes to train hard ahead of the Mayor’s Cup. “Just because we are in Harare, do your best.”
Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association President, Benson Mutongi Zvizwai, used the platform to announce that this will be his final year in office, with elections due soon. “This is my final year as President of Zimbabwe Taekwondo. In actual fact, we should have already conducted elections and I’m not standing. I think we’ve groomed quite a lot of young, capable guys,” he said.
Speaking from a seated position due to recent health challenges, Zvizwai revealed he had undergone laser treatment for cancer of the voice box and vocal cords, and had spent two months without a voice. “There was no voice after operation cancer related, of my voice box and the vocal cords… But now, at least there is a voice,” he told the gathering to applause.
Despite his condition, the economist and former University of Zimbabwe lecturer said he remains passionate about sport’s role in national development, linking Taekwondo to Zimbabwe’s NDS1, NDS2 and Vision 2030 goals. “Sport has a role in attaining that, in transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income class… The city of Harare is setting a good example,” he said. He praised Harare City for investing in athletes and urged other cities like Bulawayo, Gweru and Marondera to emulate the program. Zvizwai also highlighted cooperation with the Korean Embassy and the need to follow proper protocols with the Sports Commission and SRRC for international events.
Both leaders emphasised grooming the next generation. Chimombe thanked technical officials including Master Kashiri, who recently trained in Korea to attain master status, and urged older members to “hand over the baton to a younger generation.” “I feel happy to see such young people entering into this type of sport, because at one point in time, in the future, we need to encourage our young people to stay in the sporting fraternity,” Chimombe said.
Organisers said the Mayor’s Cup aims to be a fair platform for athletes and to raise the profile of martial arts in Zimbabwe, while strengthening regional ties through SADC participation.
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